Pelicans vs Hornets Best Bets & Picks on Feb 2

• Our analysis shows why underdog Pelicans offer value at Charlotte
• Defensive intensity dictates this rivalry, with the Under cashing at an 83% clip across the last six head-to-head meetings
• We analyze Pelicans vs Hornets and offer expert betting advice

Can the Charlotte Hornets make it seven straight?

That’s the challenge today, when the Hornets host the New Orleans Pelicans. Tip-off is set for 3 pm, ET (FDSSE and Gulf Coast Sports).

The Hornets (22-28) have won six consecutive games to climb back into the playoff race. Their streak matches the Knicks for the longest active streak in the league and their longest since 2016.

The Pelicans (13-38) arrive fresh off another loss, but their 3-2 stretch in their past five games is their best since December. This game also represents a homecoming of sorts for Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, who was born in nearby Salisbury, grew up across the border in South Carolina and starred at Duke.

Williamson leads the Pelicans in scoring at 21.7 points per game — which matches his output in three previous games in Charlotte.

We’ll analyze Pelicans at Hornets and analyze the key metrics, injury impacts, and situational trends to pinpoint the sharpest wagers for this Monday matinee.

Pelicans vs. Hornets Prediction & Picks

The oddsmakers have installed Charlotte as a solid favorite at home, setting the consensus spread at -6.5 with a total of 231.5 points. While the public is heavily backing the red-hot Hornets, the analytical profile suggests the value lies with the road underdog.

Best Bet: New Orleans Pelicans +6.5 (-109) at DraftKings

Despite New Orleans’ turbulent season, the situational spot heavily favors catching the points. The most actionable metric involves Charlotte’s struggles to cover the number when expected to win comfortably at home. Over their last six games as a home favorite against opponents with a losing record, the Hornets are just 1-5 (.167) against the spread. This inability to separate from inferior competition suggests the market is overvaluing their recent straight-up success. Conversely, the Pelicans have shown resilience in similar spots, posting a 4-1 (.800) record against sub-.500 opponents in their last five attempts. Look for New Orleans to muddy the game in the halfcourt and keep this within two possessions.

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Total Prediction: Under 231.5 (-108) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Smart money is eyeing the head-to-head history and defensive regression trends. While Charlotte’s offense has been electric, they tend to tighten up—or regress pace-wise—immediately following a win. The Over has hit in only 1 of the Hornets’ last 4 games after a victory, signaling a dip in offensive efficiency in follow-up performances. Furthermore, the stylistic clash between these two teams historically produces lower scores; the Over has cashed in just 1 of the last 6 meetings (16.7%), validating the Under as the statistically supported play.

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Player Prop: Zion Williamson Over 21.5 Points (+100 at FanDuel)

With Dejounte Murray still sidelined, the Pelicans’ offensive hierarchy remains consolidated around Zion Williamson. New Orleans leads the league in paint scoring (57.9 PPG), and without Mason Plumlee anchoring the middle for Charlotte, the Hornets lack the rim protection to deter Williamson’s downhill attacks. The consensus line of 21.5 is well within reach given the volume Williamson commands in competitive road games.

Key Team Betting Trends

• Hornets Fade as Favorites: Charlotte has covered the spread in just one of their last six games as a home favorite against sub-.500 teams (1-5 ATS).
• Rivalry leans Low: The Under has hit in 5 of the last 6 matchups between New Orleans and Charlotte.
• Post-Win Defense: The Under is 3-1 in Charlotte’s last four games coming off a victory.

Public Betting Splits

The NBA public betting data for Monday’s matchup reveals a distinct divide between public sentiment and sharp money, particularly in the total market.

Spread Market: The spread market is relatively split, though the road underdog has captured a slight edge in volume. The New Orleans Pelicans are attracting 52.5% of the bet tickets and a slightly stronger 56.0% of the money handle. This alignment suggests that despite Charlotte’s winning streak, seasoned bettors are respecting the +6.5 number as too high for this specific matchup.

Total Market: We see a classic “Fade the Public” opportunity here. A significant 65.3% of tickets and 65.6% of the cash are on the OVER, likely driven by Charlotte’s recent high-scoring box scores. However, the total has dropped from an opener of 233.5 to 231.5 despite this heavy public action on the Over. This “reverse line movement” — where the line moves opposite to the betting percentages — is a strong indicator that sharp money is pounding the Under.

Moneyline Market: Confidence in a straight-up Hornets victory is overwhelming. Charlotte is receiving 90.3% of moneyline bets and 89.3% of the money. The disparity between the Moneyline (heavy Hornets) and Spread (slight Pelicans lean) indicates bettors expect Charlotte to win, but doubt their ability to cover the margin.

Pelicans vs Hornets Scouting Report: Paint Dominance vs. Three-Point Barrage

The primary battleground will be the arc versus the paint. The Pelicans lead the NBA with 57.9 points in the paint per game, a direct result of Zion Williamson’s preferred method of scoring. Williamson, shooting 57.0% from the field, faces a Hornets defense that is statistically average guarding the rim and currently lacks depth due to injuries.

Conversely, Charlotte operates from the outside in. Ranking 3rd in three-pointers per game (15.3), the Hornets use the drive-and-kick game of LaMelo Ball to set up shooters like Brandon Miller. Miller has been lethal at the Spectrum Center, averaging 21.9 points in home splits. If New Orleans’ 29th-ranked defense cannot rotate to shooters, Charlotte could bury them early. However, Charlotte’s loose handle — ranking 28th in turnovers — gives the Pelicans’ transition offense (fueled by Herbert Jones’ length) a path to easy buckets.

Pelicans vs Hornets Injury Report

Charlotte Impact: The continued absence of Mason Plumlee leaves the Hornets thin in the frontcourt. This forces them to play smaller or rely on unproven depth, which exacerbates the mismatch against New Orleans’ league-leading interior offense.

New Orleans Impact: Without Dejounte Murray, the Pelicans lack a secondary elite playmaker. This simplifies the defensive game plan for Charlotte (wall off Zion), but also guarantees high usage for Williamson, supporting the Over on his scoring props.

Pelicans vs. Hornets Odds

Odds as of February 02, 2026, at 12:49 PM ET from Consensus Sportsbooks.

The market clearly favors the home side, with the Hornets positioned as -271 moneyline favorites, implying a vig-free win probability of approximately 70.0%. The Pelicans are given roughly a 30.0% chance to pull off the upset.

For value hunters, a $20 wager on the Hornets moneyline returns a profit of just $7.38, offering little upside given the variance of an NBA regular-season game. However, a $20 bet on the Pelicans moneyline (+219) would return $43.80 in profit, presenting a high-risk, high-reward option for those believing the “sell high” spot on Charlotte is ripe.

Line Movement Analysis: The spread opened at Hornets -7.5 but has been bet down to -6.5, indicating sharp respect for the Pelicans’ ability to keep the game competitive. Similarly, the total opened at 233.5 and has fallen to 231.5. This two-point drop aligns with the strong historical trend of Unders in this series, suggesting the initial number was inflated by Charlotte’s recent offensive outbursts.